In power-starved Jammu and Kashmir, the power development department (PDD) has issued two-week disconnection notices to 148 defaulting consumers. They included the National Conference headquarters in Srinagar, Hari Niwas Jammu, government offices, security force camps and business houses for not paying electricity arrears to the tune of Rs 59.52 crore.
A senior PDD official said Hari Niwas Palace, formerly the residence of Maharaja Hari Singh, which has been converted to a heritage hotel, owes the department Rs 98.3 lakh.
“A business house by the name J&K Pulp and Paper Pvt Limited, Bari Brahmana, Jammu owes Rs 2 crore. Kranti Hotel, Jammu has an outstanding of Rs 36 lakh. A business house Pee Ell Alloys Pvt Limited Bari Brahmna Jammu owes Rs 96 lakh to PDD,” the official said.
He said another business house Sanson Bakers, Jammu has not cleared its outstanding arrears of Rs 1.2 crore.
Similarly, Ashoka Hotel in Jammu, he said, owes Rs 29 lakh to PDD. “Vodafone Essar Spacetel, Bakshi Nagar Jammu owes an outstanding amount of Rs 11 lakh.”
The official said Jammu-based businessman Bhim Raj owes Rs 1.2 crore. “Another Jammu-based businessman Sanjeev Verma owes Rs 59 lakh.
He said Inspector General BSF transit camp Jammu has Rs 10 lakh as an outstanding. The PDD official said in Kashmir, the ruling party National Conference headquarters at Nawai-Subh complex, here has also not paid up.
“The NC headquarters, where party leaders usually address media briefings in Srinagar, owe Rs 11.49 lakh to the PDD,” he said.
He said the business group Trumboo Joinery has an outstanding of Rs 109.86 crores while Royal Springs Golf Course here owes Rs 50.23 lakhs.
“Sheraz Cinema in down town Srinagar, where paramilitary CRPF men are stationed owe Rs 39.69 lakh to PDD and another hotel Kehkashan, which also houses CRPF camp, has an outstanding of Rs 92.18 lakh,” the official said.
Chief Engineer Bashir Ahmad Khan said the two week’s disconnection notice was served to the defaulting consumers in Jammu and Kashmir having power arrears of Rs 10 lakhs and above.
“The consumers, who include business houses, have been asked to liquidate balance electricity charges within two week’s time. Afterwards, their power connections will be disconnected and electricity shall not be reconnected unless the defaulting consumer deposits the past dues,” he said.
Khan said total outstanding against 120 defaulting consumers in Jammu province is Rs 51.74 crores. “Similarly, total outstanding against 28 defaulting consumers in Kashmir is Rs 7.78 crores”.